Phonograph



Uly l?, Q. I M, J. JOHNSON 1,966,655

PHONOGRAPH Filed Sept. 26. 1927 33 2 j; l NEUTRAL i mmm: REPRowce ll,f\l ,l [Il] ,l Il 23 53 24 6", 5958 2O x f4/ 4 13 'f l 17 29 1 1s im@ 1 Z2 27 1% Eff? 3 DICTATE IN V EN TOR.

A RNY Patented July 17, 1934 f1 Ni'i TATS naar erica PHON OGRAPH Application September 26, 1927, Serial No. 221,938

12 Claims.

rhis invention relates to commercial phonographic machines, and more particularly to an improved safety device therefor. This invention, as disclosed by the present i) drawing, is applied to the usual type of dictation machine comprising: a frame; a rotatable record-supporting mandrel; a remote control to start and stop the machine; a carriage; an acoustical device thereon adapted to record or reproduce dictation; and a control on the carriage by the operation of which the machine may be conditioned for either recording or reproducing, or to be neutral.

With this construction, the recording mechanism is rendered inoperative when the control device is in either neutral or reproducing position, and hence, should the operator inadvertently dictate to the machine while the control is in either neutral or reproducing position, no useful record will be made. Should the operator discover that the machine is not conditioned for dictation shortly after he has started, the mistake may be easily remedied, but it is extremely embarrassing and annoying to nd, after one has dictated for a long time, that the matter so dictated has not been recorded, for, as is well known, after a matter has once been dictated or spoken, it is seldom that a person can repeat the thoughts with the same force and style.

In order to obviate this disadvantage, safety means have heretofore been provided to prevent normal or usual operation of the machine by operation of the remote start-and-stop control when the control device is in either neutral or reproducr ing position. 1n one form, this means comprises locking mechanism on the frame of the machine having several interponents between it and the carriage condition controlling device by means of which it is actuated when the control device is moved to non-recording position.

According to the present invention, improved means for locking the control device are provided, and these means more directly accomplish the result by obviating the need for several interponents and auxiliary parts. This is accomplished according to the present invention, by providing means mounted on the traveling carriage for operating directly on a part of the start-and-stop mechanism which travels with the carriage to prevent operation of the remote start-and-stop control of the machine when the condition controlling device is in non-recording position.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates several forms of this invention- Figure l is a side View, partly in section, of a dictation machine, showing one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view, partly in section, of the safety device, according to the present invention, mounted on the sound-box carriage.

Fig. 3 is a sectional side view of a modification of the device shown in Figs. l and 2, and showing related parts of a dictation machine.

The dictation machine illustrated in the accompanying drawing comprises a base 10 having upper and lower guide rods 11 and 12 upon which a sound-box carriage 13 is adapted to slide to 70 and fro longitudinally of the machine to carry a sound-box 14 over the surface of a record not shown. This record in use is supported by a mandrel having a shaft 15 rotatably mounted in a housing 16 on the base l0. Longitudinal move- 75 ment of the carriage 13 and sound-box 14 over the record-surface in accomplished by a rotating feed-screw 17 engaged with a feed-nut 18 carried by the carriage 13.

The sound-box 14 is mounted for up-and-down 80 movement, to accommodate records of different diameters or to follow irregularities of the record surface, on trunnions 19 carried by a supporting sleeve 20 which in turn is pivotally mounted by a rod 21 in a tube 22 which is slidably mounted in a 85 holder or casing 23 secured to the carriage 13 by screws 24. The sliding tube 22 is longitudinally movable in the casing 23 so as to bring a recording stylus 25 or a reproducing stylus 26 into position to engage a record, or to cause both styli to be raised from the record when the sound-box 1li is in an intermediate position, as seen in Fig.

1, where it is supported by a cam surface 27 engaging a stud 28 carried by the casing 23. Hence, when the sliding tube 22 is moved longitudinally 95 in the casing 23, either the recording stylus 25, reproducing stylus 26, or neither stylus is in engagement with the record surface, depending upon the position of the sliding tube 22 in the casing 23.

For the purpose of moving the sound-box 14 to cause it to be positioned for either recording or reproducing, or neither recording nor reproducing, the sliding tube 22 is connected by a link 29 to the lower end of a control lever 30 whose 105 upper and exposed end is adapted to be moved by hand. In the forms of the invention shown, the lever 30 pivots about the axis of the feed-screw 17, This control lever 30 may be shifted from the neutral position, shown in full lines in Fig. 110

CII

1, forwardly to dictating position or rearwardly to reproducing position, as the operator desires. In the neutral position shown, the feed-nut 16 is, as usual, moved downwardly out oi engagement with the feed-screw 17 so that the carriage is free for movement longitudinally oi the record to any desired position. For further disclose of this construction and operation reference may be had to the United States Letters Patent of T. E. MacDonald No. 1,100,024, June 16, 1914.

When it is desired to listen back to matter recorded previously on the same record, the control lever is moved from dietating position to the neutral position shown in full lines in Fig. l, then the carriage is slid back to the desired place, and the control lever is then further moved rearwardly to the reproducing position shown in dotted lines and so designated in Fig. 1. The operator then listens to the matter dictated, and before again commencing to dictate should move the lever forwardly to neutral position, then advance the carriage to the place from which it had been returned, and then further move the control lever lorwardly to dicta-ting position.

Sound is collected from and transmitted to the sound-box 14 by means of a speaking tube 31 connected with the casing 23 for the sliding tube 22 at one end, and having at its other end a handle 32 provided with a mouthpiece 33, as shown in Fig. 1. In using the machine, the operator grasps the handle 32 and thereby holds the mouthpiece 33 adjacent his lips, so that the sounds which he emits are transmitted by the speaking tube 31 to the sound-box 14, thereby vibrating a diaphragm carrying the styli 25 and 26, and recording upon the record blank when the recording stylus 25 is in engagement with the record. Conversely, when the machine is in re" producing position and the reproducing stylus 26 engages the record, vibrations of the diaphragm carrying the styli 25 and'26 produce sound which. is transmitted through the speaking tube 3l and emitted from the mouthpiece 33 which the dictator then holds at his ear.

In order to control the stopping and starting of the dictation machine, so that during pauses in dictation the machine will not operate and unnecessarily use up space on the record, the usual clutch mechanism is provided to connect the driving pulley 34 with the operating mechanism of the machine, including the mandrel shaft 15 and the feed-screw shaft 17. This clutch control mechanism comprises a grooved collar 35 mounted within the housing 15 and shifted longitudinally of the shaft i5 by a shifting yoke 36 having upstanding arms 37 provided with pins entering the groove 33 of the collar 35. The yoke 36 is pivotally mounted on a stud 39 carried by the housing 1G and is so arranged that, when operated, it causes the grooved collar 35 to be moved longitudinally, which operation causes the pulley 34 to be connected as usual to the mandrel shaft 15 and feed-screw 17.

In order that the clutch mechanism may be operated rom the handle 32, the latter is provided with a manually operable button 46 connected to the relatively moving parts 4l and 42 of a Borden-wire 43 which passes through the speaking tube 3l rearwardly to the carriage 13 from the latter downwardly to a boss 44 on the housing 16 where the outside member 42 of the Bowdenewire 43 is anchored. At this point, the inside member 41 oi the Bowden-wire has a plunger 45 slidably moving in the boss 44 and having its front end in engagement with a bell-crank 46 pivoted at 47 and having an arm 48 adapted to engage an arm 49 on the clutch shifting yoke 36. Thus, when the manually operable button is pushed inwardly, the inner member 41 is moved relatively to the outer member 42 of the Bowden-wire and this in turn causes the plunger to move the bell-crank which rocks the clutch shifting yoke 36 to start the machine, as above described.

A secondary control for operating the clutch mechanism is also provided. This is in the form of a manually shitable lever 50 mounted on the frame 10, and having a cam 51 engaging an arm 52 on the clutch shifting yoke 36. The machine may, of course, be stopped and started as by the operation of either the button 46 or the manually shift-able lever 5G, as desired by the dictator, but in dictating, the button 40 is almost exclusively used, being more convenient for the dictator. Because of the frequency of pauses in dictation, it is operated intermittently a great number of times during the course o dictation.

1n order to accomplish one of the principal objects o the present invention, namely that of providing improved means for preventing the operator from using the machine in the accustomed or usual way for dictation purposes while the control lever 30 is in either neutral 0r reproducing position, the present invention provides means for locking the Bowden-wire stopand-start control device against operation at the carriage where it passes in close proximity to the control lever 30. By so locking the control device, instead of locking it at some point on the frame 10 or housing 16, flexible or other intermediate connections between the carriage and the frame or housing may be dispensed with, thus erecting a saving in manufacturing cost and simplifying the machine.

This means for locking the Bowden-wire in the forms of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, comprises a housing 53 mounted on the carriage 13 or made integral therewith and having a loci;- ing lever 54 pivotally mounted at 55 in a slotted portion 56 of the housing. The housing 53 also supports the Bowden-wire 43 which at this point has a portion of its outer member 42 removed, the ends thus formed being forced into bushings 57 and 58 which are in turn forced into openings in the housing 53. Bowden-wire 43 'which is thus exposed is provided with a sleeve or block 59 which is securely xed thereto and is adapted to slide in the housing 53 when the related button 46 is manually moved. An aperture 6i) provided for the sleeve 59 allows for te movement o the Bowden-wire 41 and sleeve 59 caused by movement o the button 40.

The control lever 30 is provided with a plate 61 which is adjustably held thereon by a screw 62. This plate 61 is adapted to engage and actuate the locking lever 54 and, as shown in Fig. 2 with the control lever 3) in neutral position, the plate 61 engages the cam portion 63 of the locking lever and holds the same in position while an abutment 64 thereon is located adjacent the block or sleeve 59 and thus positively prevents movement of the Bowden-wire element 41 carrying the block 59.

Likewise, when the control lever 3G is moved j to reproducing position, the plate 61 moves over the cam portion 63 of the locking lever 54 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, to the position indicated by dotted lines while still holding the looking lever in engagement with the block 59, and thus the The inner member 41 of the remote control krcannot be operated while the lever 30 is in either neutral or reproducing position.

When the control lever 30 is moved tothe recording position in the direction of thearrow in Fig. 2, the plate 61-moves with it until it engages the raised portion 65 on the opposite end of the locking lever 54 and causes said lever to pivotally swing on' the pin 55 until' the abutment or stop portion 64 is moved clear of the block or sleeve 59. Thus, while the control is in recording position, the Bowden-wire element 41 and sleeve 59 may be moved in the aperture 60 in the housing 53 by movement of the button 40, and hence the remote control may again be and stop the machine. n

In the modification as shown by Fig'. 3, the

I same result is accomplished in a similar manner,

a housing 66 being provided on the carriage-13 to which the end of the split outer member 42 of the Bowden-wire is held by'bushings 67 and 68. A stop block 69 is securely xed tothe inner member 41 of the Bowden-wire and is movable in the aperture 70 by movement of the button `40. In this modication, however, a locking lever '71 ispivotally mounted on a pin '72 in the housing 66 under pressure of a iiat spring '73, and is movable vertically instead of horizontally by action of an arm '74 on the control lever 30, and the arm 74 only engages the locking lever '7l to move it out of locking position when the control lever is moved to recording position as shown in Fig. 3, and when the locking lever '71 is so conditioned the inner member 4l of the Bowden-wire and stop block 69 are movable by manipulation or" the remote control button 40.

However, when the control lever 30 is moved to neutral position, as indicated by the dotted outline and so marked in Fig. 3, the arm '74 passes out of engagement with a cam portion '75 of the locking lever so that the latter, under the influence of the spring 73, moves downwardly until the abutment '76 engages the side of the stop block 69 to prevent movement of the Bowden-wire element 41 carrying the stop block 69. Of course, when the control lever 30 is moved further in the same direction to the reproducing position, the locking lever '71 remains in engagement with the stop block 69 and continuous to render the remote control inoperable while the control lever is positioned for reproducing,

Thus, it will be seen, that the remote control is inoperable, according to the invention, when the control lever 30 is in either neutral or reproducing position.

In locking the start-and-stop control device by directly preventing movement of the Bowdenwire at the point where the Bowden-wire is in proximity to the carriage, a less complicated structure may be used and the need for sliding or flexible connections between the carriage and the stationary clutch mechanism is obviated. Moreover, failure of the parts to operate, due to lost motion or weaknesses of the parts, is made less likely.

By automatically locking the operation of the button 40 against controlling the stopping and starting or the machine from the handle 32, the dictator, in order to cause the machine to operate to reproduce matter, is forced to use the secondary stop-and-start lever 50 which is located on the machine proper and which he would not use in dictating.

If the operator should attempt to dictate while the control lever is in either reproducing posiused lto start tion or neutral position, being engrossed with the matter in reference to whichfhe intends to dictate, he'will be immediately apprised of the fact that the machine is not in condition to receive his dictation. To correct the situation, he simply shifts the control lever'30 to dictating'position after making sure that the carriage has been advanced beyond the last dictation,

Variations' and modications may be made within the scope of thisinvention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and for which it is desired to obtain Letters-Patent, isz- 1. In'a dictation machine, a carriage; a manually operable condition controlling device on the carriage; a stop-and-start device located at a point remote from the machineV and connected thereto by means supported by the carriage; and a lock on the carriage for preventing manipulation of' Ysaidremote control device when the condition controlling device is in predetermined position.` I

2. In a dictation machine, a carriageya manually operable condition controlling device on the carriage having dictating and non-dictatingfpositions; a stop-and-start'control device connected to the machine by means supported by the' carriage; and a lock on the carriage for preventing the actuation of the stop-and-start device when the condition controlling device is in predetermined position.

3. In a dictation machine, a carriage; a manually operable control lever on the carriage having dictating and non-dictating positions; a stopand-start button operated as an incident to dictation and connected to the machine by means supported by the carriage; and a lock on the carriage for preventing the operation of the stopand-start button when said control lever is in non-dictating position.

4. In a dictation machine, a carriage; a manually operable control lever on the carriage having dictating and non-dictating positions; a stopand-start control device connected to the machine by means supported by the carriage; and a lock on the carriage operated directly by movement of the said control lever to prevent manipulation of said stop-and-start device when the control lever is in predetermined position.

5. In a dictation machine, a carriage; a soundbox mounted on said carriage; a sound-box condition controlling lever; a remote control device to stop-and-start the machine and connected to the machine by means supported by the carriage; and means comprising a locking lever on the carriage to lock the remote control device, said means being operated incidental to the movement of the condition controlling lever to predetermined position.

6. In a dictation machine, a carriage; a manually operable condition controlling device on the carriage having dictating and non-dictating positions; a stop-and-start device located at a point remote from the machine and connected to the carriage; means on the carriage to engage the remote control device for locking the same when the condition controlling device is in predetermined position; and an auxiliary control mounted on the machine capable of operation to perform the function of the remote control when the remote control is prevented from operating, while said condition controlling device is in said predetermined position.

'7. In a dictation machine, a carriage; a manually operable condition controlling device having dictnting and non-dictatng positions; means manually c -ierated as an incident to dictation and comprising a member carried by the carriage; and means on the carriage for preventing the operation of the last-named means when said condition controlling device is in predetermined position.

8. In a dictation machine, a carriage; means on said carriage to condition the machine for dictating or non-dictating; other means for controlling the machine located at a point remote from the machine and comprising a member carried by the carriage; and means on the carriage for preventing manipulation of the means located at a point remote from the machine when the first-named conditioning means is in predetermined position.

9. In a dictation machine, a carriage; a manually movable record-engaging means having a plurality of stations; a remote control device comprising a hand-held part supporting manually operable means and a member supported by the carriage; and means on the carriage for preventing the operation of the manually operable means on the hand-held part when the recordengaging means is manually moved to a predetermined station.

10. In a dictation machine, a carriage; a clutch shifting mechanism; a Bowden-Wire to operate the clutch shifting mechanism; means on the carriage to lock the Bowden-wire; and auxiliary means to operate the clutch shifting mechanism when the Bowden-wire is locked.

l1. In a dictation machine, a carriage; a clutch shifting mechanism; a local control device and a remote control device to actuate the clutch shifting mechanism, the remote control comprising a Bowden-wire; and means on the carriage for preventing the operation of the Bowden-Wire, thereby necessitating the use of the local control device.

l2. In a dictation machine, a carriage; recordengaging means alternatively movable to a dictating position, listening position, or neutral position; a local control device; a remote control device operated as an incident to dictation; and means on the carriage for preventing manipulation of said remote control device and compelling the operation of the local control device when the record-engaging means is moved to listening position when it is desired to listen to matter previously dictated.

MANFRED J. JOHNSON. 

